Since sewer and plumbing lines spend most of their lifespan underground, they’re usually out of sight. When the lines have cracks, invasive tree roots, or are otherwise damaged, homeowners don’t know until there’s a serious problem. Fortunately, video inspection allows plumbers to identify plumbing problems before they become catastrophic.

Video inspection is the only way to analyze underground sewer and plumbing lines short of digging them up. By attaching a high-resolution camera to a fiber optic cable and sending the cable down a drain, professional plumbers can identify problems and judge how best to proceed with repairs. Video inspection is also an important step for prospective homeowners. If the property you’re thinking of buying has problems with its sewer line, you might select another home or further discuss the terms of the sale.

Whether you’re looking to inspect a new home or maintain your current one, Ace Plumbing Heating & Air will gladly provide video inspection services for the entire Sacramento area and beyond. We can also handle numerous other plumbing and home heating tasks, including clearing clogged drains and maintaining HVAC systems. Call us at (916) 455-4548 or visit our website if you have any questions.

Many homeowners are content to flush their toilets without understanding anything about how they work. However, it’s helpful to learn the basics of toilet function in case anything goes wrong.

This video discusses the basics of how toilets work. A gravity flow toilet, which can be found in most homes, involves two main parts—the tank and the bowl. Water flows into the tank until the fill valve closes. Every time you flush the toilet, you lift the flapper valve, allowing water to flow into the bowl. The force of the flowing water causes the water to flush downward.

If your toilet is misbehaving, call Ace Plumbing at (916) 455-4548. We’ve been providing the people of Sacramento with top-quality plumbing, sewer, and heating repair services for over 40 years.

The toilet is an easy fixture to take for granted—until it stops functioning. You don’t have to learn everything there is to know about the toilet to be a responsible homeowner, but it helps to be familiar with the basics so you can help your plumber find a solution. Here’s a brief look at some common toilet problems and their possible causes:

Running Toilet Your toilet tank should have a special valve that stops water from flowing once the water in your tank reaches a certain level. If something is wrong with this valve, water may continue to flow into the overflow tube, causing the running sound. A toilet may also make the running sound periodically if the flapper valve has a leak, causing the water level to drop gradually. The final cause of a running toilet is a twisted flush chain that prevents the flapper from closing over the valve seat.

Toilet Clog If the water in the bowl stops mid-flush, it’s likely that you have a clog. If you try to flush again, the bowl may fill with water and overflow, causing a significant mess. If you see water filling up your bowl, turn off the water valve next to your toilet. To clear the clog, place a plunger over the opening of the clog, make sure there’s enough water to cover the suction cup, then begin working the plunger up and down.

Loose Handle When you go to flush your toilet, you may notice that the handle goes up and down without any resistance. This means that the chain connecting the handle and the flush valve has broken or become disconnected. Most of the time, all you have to do is reattach the chain; however, it may become rusted and need to be replaced.

The next time you encounter a toilet problem that is too tough to handle yourself, contact the plumbers at Ace Plumbing . We also specialize in heating repairs for home and business owners throughout the Sacramento area. Call us at (916) 455-4548 any time you have a plumbing or heating emergency.

Fall has arrived in full force, and temperatures around the Sacramento area will only get colder for the next several months. To stay comfortable this season, you should make sure your furnace is ready to go. Staying on top of maintenance is also important for reducing your heating costs and keeping your utility bill at a reasonable level.

Change the Filter The filter in your furnace is responsible for protecting the appliance’s components and filtering the air inside your home. If you haven’t changed the filter since last heating season, your heater will have to work harder than necessary, driving up your heating costs. Experts recommend changing the furnace filter once every month during the heating season. If you’d rather not change the filter that often, consider a more substantial HEPA or electrostatic filter.

Check the Vents Your indoor climate relies on a series of ducts, through which hot air travels from the furnace to the various vents in your home. If the vents are blocked by dirt or furniture, your system can’t heat your home as efficiently. You should also check your system’s exhaust flue and intake vent to make sure they aren’t being blocked by animal nests or plant debris.

Call a Professional There are some furnace maintenance tasks that are best left to professional technicians. Instead of risking injury to yourself or damage to your furnace, schedule a professional furnace tune up every fall. A technician will make sure all the interior and exterior elements of your furnace are performing as they should. He can also catch small problems and address them before they become big, expensive problems.

The technicians of Ace Plumbing are qualified to perform repairs on all major furnace brands. Our level of expertise and our dedication to customer satisfaction has earned us the coveted A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. To make sure the furnace in your Sacramento home or business is operating as well as it can this winter, call us at (916) 455-4548.